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The last time British art promoter Lazarides came to Los Angeles, it was a hit, to say the least. It featured the work of the famously elusive Banksy, who also left the gallery behind to hit the streets, installing a British phone booth in Chinatown and a Guantanamo Bay detainee at Disneyland. Later this month, Lazarides is embarking on four months worth of art shows. While Banksy is not part of it (or at least as far as we know), the slate is impressive. On April 23rd, L.A. native David Choe returns to the city with Nothing to Declare through May 23rd. From June 9th to 27th, big name Eurpoean artists will take over: JR (Paris), Vhils (Lisbon), Conor Harrington (Cork, Ireland) and Antony Micallef (London). Next, will be an installation of Jonathan Yeo’sinfamous pornographic portraits from July 9th to August 9th. The last show, between August 13th and 26th, will be the first solo exhibition with British artist Jay Jay Burridge.
The shows will take place in an 8,000 square foot venue in Beverly Hills near Rodeo Drive. If that seems like an odd spot for street artist types, there's a reason for it. Lazarides wants to juxtapose the art with the clean vibe of the 90210. "People will come across the gallery and it will throw people off a bit," explained Sonja Teri, who works with the curator.
As for art spilling onto local streets, that's only to be expected. Any street-inclined artist can't miss the opportunity.
